Željko Ražnatović | |
---|---|
Жељко Ражнатовић | |
Member of the National Assembly | |
In office 25 January 1993 – 20 October 1993 | |
President | Zoran Lilić Zoran Aranđelović |
Personal details | |
Born | Brežice, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia | 17 April 1952
Died | 15 January 2000 Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia | (aged 47)
Cause of death | Gunshot wounds[1] |
Resting place | Belgrade New Cemetery |
Nationality | Serbian |
Political party | Party of Serbian Unity (1993–2000) |
Spouses | |
Children | 9, including Anastasija |
Relatives | Veljko Ražnatović (father) |
Awards | Order of Karađorđe's Star |
Nickname | Arkan |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Yugoslavia Serbian Krajina Republika Srpska |
Branch/service | Yugoslav People's Army (until 1992) Army of Republika Srpska (1992–1995) |
Years of service | 1991–1996 |
Rank | Commander |
Unit | Arkan Tigers |
Battles/wars | |
Criminal information | |
Criminal charge | |
Penalty | No (assassinated) |
Željko Ražnatović (Serbian Cyrillic: Жељко Ражнатовић, pronounced [ʒêːʎko raʒnâːtoʋitɕ]; 17 April 1952 – 15 January 2000), better known as Arkan (Serbian Cyrillic: Аркан), was a Serbian warlord, mobster and head of the Serb paramilitary force called the Serb Volunteer Guard during the Yugoslav Wars, considered one of the most feared and effective paramilitary forces during the wars.[2] His paramilitary unit was responsible for numerous crimes in Eastern Bosnia, including murder, pillaging, rape and ethnic cleansings.[3] Arkan was one of the most celebrated and iconic figures in Serbia during his time.[4]
He was on Interpol's top ten most wanted list in the 1970s and 1980s for robberies and murders committed in countries across Europe,[5][6] he escaped jail twice,[5] and was later indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for crimes against humanity. Up until his assassination in January 2000, Ražnatović was the most powerful organized crime figure in the Balkans,[7][8] as well as the most powerful state-sponsored gangster in Serbia. Ražnatović had links to Avraham Golan, an infamous security contractor.[9]
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